THE MUSHABBIHA

CONCERNING THE THEOLOGICAL DOCTRINE OF THE MUSHABBIHA [ANTHROPOMORPHISTS]mstheme>

Concerning the doctrine of the Anthropomorphists [al-Mushabbiha], we have three subsects to consider: The Hishamiyya, the Muqatiliyya and the Wasimiyya.

The point on which all three of these subsects are in unanimous agreement is that Allah (Exalted is He) is a physical body [jism], and that it is impossible to conceive of that which exists [al-mawjud] in anything other than strictly physical terms. They were persuaded to adopt the anthropomorphic doctrine [tashbih] under the influence of the sects known as the Rawafid and the Karramiyya.

The author who compiled their text books was a certain Hisham ibn al-Hakam, whose works include a book on the proof of the reality of the physical body [fi ithbat al-jism].